OJ Simpson Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Was O.J. Simpson’s Net Worth, Salary, and Career Earnings?

O.J. Simpson, an American football player, sports commentator, and actor, had a net worth of $3 million. During his divorce proceedings in 1992, he estimated his net worth to be $10.8 million. This figure marked the peak of Simpson’s net worth, and for context, $10.8 million in 1992 is equivalent to $25 million today. Approximately half of his 1992 net worth stemmed from the value of his Brentwood estate, which he acquired in 1977 for $650,000 (or about $3.5 million today). Per the settlement terms of his divorce, O.J.’s monthly earnings in 1992 were reported at $55,000, fittingly translating to $125,000 per month when adjusted for inflation, roughly amounting to $1.5 million annually today. His income was predominantly derived from a Hertz endorsement deal. To finalize the divorce, O.J. consented to pay $10,000 each month in child support to Nicole, alongside a one-time lump sum of $433,750 ($1 million when accounting for inflation). Additionally, he transferred a rental property situated in San Francisco to Nicole.

As widely known, in 1995, Simpson was acquitted of the murder charges concerning Ron Goldman and his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson. To shield her children from testifying against their father, Nicole’s family refrained from pursuing civil litigation against O.J. However, the Goldman family did initiate a civil lawsuit against Simpson. As a result, he was mandated to compensate the Goldman family $33.5 million in damages, which is around $65 million in today’s dollars. Over time, this figure has accumulated interest, approaching $100 million today. Roughly $500,000 was offset from the sale of various assets and memorabilia. In 2007, O.J. Simpson faced criminal conviction due to a robbery/kidnapping incident in Las Vegas.

His entire net worth was depleted during his criminal trial. Following this, he resided in his Brentwood mansion until eviction in 1997 due to mortgage default. The 6,200-square-foot property was ultimately foreclosed and purchased for $4 million, subsequently demolished in 1998. After being forced out, O.J. acquired a residence in Florida and subsequently filed for bankruptcy. Importantly, he declared bankruptcy after relocating to Florida, where state laws protect primary homes from bankruptcy claims. Moreover, in the years following his acquittal, O.J.’s main source of income was a fully-funded NFL pension, estimated to be worth up to $5 million. Combined with other pensions, this generated roughly $400,000 annually. State legislation safeguarded these pension funds from being accessed by the Goldman family. O.J. Simpson passed away on April 10, 2024, at the age of 76 after battling cancer.

Rockingham Mansion Foreclosure

As previously mentioned, in 1977, O.J. purchased a home at 360 N. Rockingham in LA’s Brentwood neighborhood for $650,000. Prior to his acquisition, the residence was leased by the well-known couple James Taylor and Carly Simon. It was at this location that O.J. and Nicole exchanged vows in 1985.

In July 1997, O.J. found himself facing foreclosure after failing to make $86,000 in mortgage payments on his property. The estate was subsequently placed up for auction, with bidding commencing at $1.875 million. Within just three minutes of public bidding, Hawthorne Savings, the lender holding O.J.’s mortgage of $2,531,259, emerged as the winning bidder, with a final bid of $2,631,259—exactly $100,000 more than what Simpson owed. Only one other participant competed in the auction.

The former Brentwood mansion of O.J. spanned 6,200 square feet and boasted features such as a tennis court, an Olympic-sized pool complete with waterfalls, and a spacious multi-unit guesthouse (which was famouslyoccupied the residence with Kato Kaelin during the time surrounding the murders. In July 1998, this home was torn down, and a new mansion was constructed at a different address to deter tourists. The newly built home was sold for $13.6 million in November 2005.

To demonstrate his innocence, O.J. provided an extensive tour of his Rockingham estate in 1996 after being acquitted. Here’s the video tour:

In 2000, he purchased a home in Miami for $575,000. Located at 9450 SW 112th Street, this property faced foreclosure in 2012 after his daughter ceased mortgage payments. At that time, Simpson was serving a prison sentence in Nevada. The property was sold at a foreclosure auction for $513,000 in 2014. In 2023, the home was demolished, and in February 2024, the 1.6-acre lot was put on the market for $2.4 million.

3 More Facts About O.J. Simpson’s Net Worth

#1: As stated by one of his close friends, prior to his arrest in the ’90s, O.J. had a pension investment account valued at around $2 million. Over the decades, this money was managed passively, leading his associate to estimate the current net asset value of the pension fund to be between $2 and $5 million. Additionally, he earned a modest pension from the Screen Actor’s Guild due to his various film and television roles. Fortunately, pension funds are fully safeguarded from legal judgments, including bankruptcy, which meant none of this money could be accessed by the Goldman family. It was reported that his pensions brought in approximately $400,000 annually for Simpson.

#2: All income that Simpson generated outside of his pension funds went directly to the Goldman family to assist in settling the $33.5 million civil judgment against him. Ultimately, $500,000 of those damages were paid, much of which was sourced from the auction of some of his personal belongings during the 90s.

#3: There were speculations that O.J. had millions of dollars concealed abroad, particularly in the Cayman Islands. This theory was long believed by the Goldman family. To further fuel the rumors about overseas funds, during the 2008 robbery trial that led to O.J.’s imprisonment, one individual—held at gunpoint by Simpson and his associates—was recorded saying:

“Nobody puts a gun in my face. I stood up for [him] while he was in jail. I stood up for him in the press. I stood up for him… on the stand. I helped him set up his offshore accounts.“

Early Life

Born on July 9, 1947, in San Francisco, California, O.J. Simpson was named Orenthal James Simpson. Raised by his parents, Eunice, who worked as a hospital administrator, and Jimmy Lee Simpson, who was a chef and bank custodian, O.J. had an upbringing in the Bay Area. His father was well-known as a popular drag queen in the San Francisco region, who

Later in his life, he publicly came out as gay and passed away from AIDS in 1986.

Following his parents’ separation in 1952, O.J. lived with his mother. As a teenager, he became involved with the street gang known as The Persian Warriors and spent some time in a juvenile detention facility. However, a fortuitous encounter with baseball legend Willie Mays motivated Simpson to turn his life around and avoid trouble. After finishing high school at Galileo, he went to community college and subsequently received a football scholarship to the University of Southern California. He was a contender for the Heisman Trophy during his junior year and won it in his senior year.

NFL Career

In 1969, the Buffalo Bills selected Simpson as their number-one draft pick. He requested what was then the largest contract in professional sports history: $650,000 over five years. This demand led to tensions and a standoff with theBills’ owner, Ralph Wilson. O.J. even threatened to abandon his football career to pursue acting. Ultimately, Wilson conceded to Simpson’s demands. He faced challenges during his first three seasons, averaging just 622 yards each year. However, in 1972, O.J. surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his professional career, and in 1973, he became the first NFL player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season. He also reclaimed the rushing title in 1975, with 1,817 yards and 16 touchdowns, though an injury cut short his 1977 season.

Prior to the 1978 season, Simpson was traded to the San Francisco 49ers, where he played for two years. His last NFL game took place on December 16, 1979, resulting in a defeat against the Atlanta Falcons. O.J.’s final play was a 10-yard run on a 3rd and 10 that secured a first down. He participated in six Pro Bowls and entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985. In 2019, he was recognized in the National Football League 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.

NFL Earnings

Upon being drafted by the Bills in 1969, O.J. requested a 5-year contract worth $650,000, which is approximately equivalent to $5.5 million today after inflation adjustments. After a brief period of negotiation, he finally secured that contract, making it the largest in professional sports at the time. Throughout his career, he remained one of the highest-paid players in the league. During his final seasons, he ranked as the top-paid player in the NFL. For the 1978 season, his salary, which led the league, was $733,668. In his final season, 1979, he earned $806,668, translating to about $3.5 million today. In comparison, the average NFL salary in 1979 was $69,000, equivalent to $300,000 today, with Walter Payton as the league’s second-highest earner at $450,000.

Nickname

He earned the nickname Juice as a play on the abbreviation O.J., which stands for orange juice. The term Juice also conveys the idea of electricity, symbolizing power for a strong figure. During O.J.’s peak career years, the offensive line of the Bills was referred to as The Electric Company.

Entertainment Career

Simpson also built a successful career as an actor, television producer, and commercial spokesperson. Before he even hung up his cleats with the NFL, he was already landing roles in TV and movies. His filmography includes titles such as “The Towering Inferno” (1974), “The Klansman” (1974), and “Capricorn One” (1978). Notably, he starred as Detective Nordberg in the “Naked Gun” comedy trilogy (1988-1994). Additionally, he contributed to various television shows, with a standout role in the 1977 series “Roots.” James Cameron considered Simpson for the lead in “The Terminator” in 1984, but ultimately, Arnold Schwarzenegger was cast instead, leaving Simpson out of the project.

On top of his acting endeavors, Simpson had a noteworthy career as an NFL commentator, gaining fame through “Monday Night Football.” His tenure at ABC spanned from 1969 to 1977, and he returned from 1983 to 1986. He also worked with NBC between 1978 and 1982.

Endorsement Deals

Prior to joining the NFL in 1969, Simpson entered into an endorsement deal with Chevrolet worth $250,000 a year. He expanded his portfolio to include a wide array of products and services. Some of his most renowned endorsements included TreeSweet Orange Juice, Pioneer Chicken, and HoneyBaked Ham. However, his most famous partnership was with Hertz, the rental car company, for which he served as the primary celebrity endorser from 1975 until 1992. His commercials, showcasing him running through airports, became iconic in their own right. Simpson collected millions from his Hertz endorsement, and even after being phased out as the primary endorser in 1992, he continued to receive $45,000 a month from the brand for attending golf outings. Notably, on the night of the Brentwood murders, Simpson boarded a flight to Chicago to participate in a Hertz golf tournament, but he was dropped by the company following his arrest.

Personal Life

Simpson married Marguerite Whitley at the age of 19, welcoming three children into their family: Arnelle, Jason, and Aaren Simpson. Tragically, Aaren drowned in the family pool in August 1979.

In 1977, while still married to his first wife, Simpson met Nicole Brown, a nightclub waitress. Their romance began, leading to Simpson’s divorce from Whitley in March 1979. He and Nicole were wed in February 1985 and had two children, Sydney and Justin, but their marriage lasted only seven years. In 1989, Simpson pleaded no contest to charges of spousal abuse. Their divorce was finalized in 1992, and an attempt at reconciliation in 1993 proved unsuccessful.

Murders of Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman

In 1994, charges were brought against Simpson for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ronald Goldman, who were discovered brutally stabbed outside Nicole’s condo in Brentwood on June 12, 1994. Simpson quickly became a prime suspect but initially refused to surrender to authorities. Five days later, on June 17th, a low-speed police chase ensued while he was a passenger in the now-infamous white Ford Bronco driven by his friend Al Cowlings. The pursuit was broadcast live, interrupting the 1994 NBA Finals, and captivated around 95 million viewers.

The saga surrounding O.J. Simpson’s arrest and subsequent trial was one ofthe most well-known trials in American history. The jury delivered a not guilty verdict on October 3, 1995, after a duration of 11 months. Approximately 100 million viewers watched the verdict being announced live. Following this, Simpson was found liable in a civil trial, resulting in an order to compensate the Goldman and Brown families with $33.5 million in damages. At the time of his passing, he had paid roughly $500,000 of that amount. Due to accruing interest, the total owed surpassed $40 million.

Nevada Arrest and Conviction

O.J. Simpson faced arrest in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2007 for his role in an armed robbery incident at a hotel room. Allegedly, Simpson along with several associates confronted two dealers of sports memorabilia, asserting that the items they had were stolen from him. Guns were brandished during the encounter, and the group left with the memorabilia.

Charged with several felonies, such as armed robbery and kidnapping, Simpson was found guilty on all counts – including robbery, kidnapping, coercion, and conspiracy – on October 3, 2008. This marked 13 years from the date of his criminal acquittal. He received a 33-year prison sentence with the option for parole after nine years. Simpson completed nine years before being paroled in 2017.

During a hearing in 2013, O.J. claimed he warranted a new trial because he was only attempting to reclaim a few personal items that held no value. He cited personal items like a photo with former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, family vacation photos, and his college All-American certificate. His stance was that these belonged privately to him and were of no significance to the Goldmans or Browns, asserting he was attempting to reclaim them from a memorabilia dealer who had sourced them illegitimately. O.J. contended he did not break into the room and that he didn’t handle or brandish a weapon in a threatening manner, believing he was acting completely legally without any knowledge of his group’s possession of a gun. He alleged that the dealers recognized the memorabilia as his and admitted to acquiring it unlawfully.

Following the incident, O.J. proactively visited the police, presenting the items he had taken as proof of ownership. Issues arose with allegations that someone in his group had stolen the memorabilia dealer’s cellphone, which constituted robbery. Additionally, someone recorded him during the altercation, and he sounded excessively agitated. In the recording, Simpson could be distinctly heard stating:

“Don’t let nobody out of this room. Motherf@#ker, you think you can steal my sh@! and sell it? Think you can steal my sh@!?”

An unidentified voice then interjected:

“Backs to the wall. Walk your a$$ over there. You against the motherf@#ing wall!”

Pension Money

Upon reaching the age of 55, O.J. became eligible to collect a pension from the NFL. It is widely believed that he delayed claiming his pension payments untilAt the age of 65, he became eligible to receive a larger monthly payment ($10,565 instead of $4,034). If this is accurate, the NFL started providing him with $10,565 monthly payments beginning in 2012.

When adding this to his other pension income, O.J. reportedly made up to $400,000 annually.

While he was incarcerated and unable to access or utilize these funds, about $602,000 accumulated in his bank account. One of his close friends stated that O.J. also allegedly possesses a fully funded personal pension valued between $2 million to $5 million, contingent on the investment and performance of the assets. Additionally, he is believed to have a Screen Actor’s Guild pension that provides approximately $1,700 monthly. Notably, pension income is protected from bankruptcy and legal judgments, which means it remains entirely inaccessible to the Goldman family.